The E.A.R (Educated Art Review)

Anya and Madeline comb through the history and evolution of the holiday's most famous symbols: snowmen and Santa Claus!

Michael Baird, a PhD candidate of Art and Art History at University North Carolina,Chapel Hill, joins the Anya and Madeline to talk about his research into post-colonial Ugandan art education. In this episode, we explore how the ramifications of a Western European centric art education curriculum was utilized as a colonialist tool exerted on the people of Uganda in the early twentieth century as part of the British Empire and the lasting ramifications of this in the contemporary.

Ever wondered what an art historian’s best friend reveals about art? Dr. Amy Freund and Dr. Yonan have the answers! Join us for an intriguing discussion on the role of cats have in Enlightenment and early modern paintings. We’ll explore their research on felines, including their open-access article ‘Cats: The Soft Underbelly of the Enlightenment,’ and get an exclusive preview of their upcoming work, ‘Feline Creativity on the Eve of Modernity.’ Dr. Freund and Dr. Yonan had a wonderful time collaborating on these projects, and they’re excited to share their discoveries with you. Don’t miss out on this purr-fectly captivating conversation!

In the second part of our two-part episode, we investigate modern-day colonialism and its impact on art and culture through the lens of the Israel/Hamas war, which has resulted in both the physical and cultural genocide of the Palestinian People. We contemplate the current struggles of both Israeli and Palestinian art museums in the contemporary global art world and consider the future impact of the mass destruction of culture based on the concept of "cultural genocide," of which this war is only one modern example.

In the first part of this two-part episode, we dive deep into the pervasive legacies of colonialism that continue to shape our world today - especially in relation to art and art history. We specifically go through the examples of engravings depicting the "New World" and its impact on the history of archaeology, the creation of a global art market enabled by the Dutch East India Company, and the contemporary battles over the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes back to Nigeria. Join Anya, Madeline, and Kayetana to explore this broad but contentious subject and how it relates to visual culture.

Anya and Madeline, we are here for a special anniversary episode as we look back on a crazy but incredible first year of the E.A.R Podcast! We review some of our favorite episodes and topics and talk more about the journey of how this podcast came to be. If you have wanted to dive in to the lore of our podcast, now is your chance!

Why was the MET Gala so controversial this year? In this episode, Madeline and Anya take a deep dive into some of the past problematic MET Costume Institute shows and the colonialist tradition of the MET Gala.

TRIGGER WARNING: SA and Violence Against Women In this episode, Any and Madeline talk explore bad decisions in art curation, specifically the Artemisia exhibition in the Palazzo Ducale. We talk about why the show consists of bad curating (aside from the obvious reasons!) and talk about ways for exhibitions dealing with heavy topics can learn and grow.

On this episode, we talk with art historian @abedoesarthistory about the trope of Bridal Mysticism. We explore its history, the concept of ecstasy, and female sexuality in the context of religion. Is Bridal mysticism just a code for "sex with God," or is it something more? #sex #ecstacy #arthistory #art

Join Anya, Madeline, and Dr. Rachel Miller in this Valentine's Day edition episode Infectious Love, where we'll explore the cultural implications and depictions of Syphilis in iconic artworks such as Albrecht Dürer's Syphilitic Man, William Hogarth's scandalous Marriage a La Mode, and Rembrandt's Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse. From hidden meanings to scandalous whispers, we'll uncover the juicy details behind these masterpieces while exploring the artistic expressions of love, life, morality, and disease! Tune in for laughs, gasps, and a newfound appreciation for the ways in which artists have depicted the grotesqueness and oddity of the human condition throughout the ages. Subscribe now on Spotify, and let's dive into some weird art together! 🎨❤️